[candyspics]

Hi everyone,
I am new to this site and hope someone can help me. I was asked by someone if I would sell him the rights to some of my pictures so he can resell them (I don't know if I am wording this correctly?) Can someone give me some advice on how to go about this? I wouldn't even have a clue on a dollar amount.
Thanks,
Candy

[Markulous]

I'd say there's no strict rule - dependant on how they're to be used (national magazine vs small print book vs website) or quantity (national ad campaign vs local 1,000 leaflets).

BTW, moved this to a forum where you may have more success with your question

Oh, and

[MiG Eater]

You may find this helpful, found on another forum I'm part of.

iB::Topic::Photographers' Rights in the UK

Nick

[Dave]

Freelance Photography Fees - Full list of rates

[Dave Canon]

You need a contract between you and the other party and there may be standard proformas for this type of transcation. You ought to think carefully about the value of your pictures etc.

You could:

a. transfer all rights to these pictures to the other party and after you receive your payment you have no more rights to use those pictures.

b. allow the other party to freely use and sell your picture (under the terms of the contract) while retaining ownership of the copyright thus being able to sell them elsewhere in future.

c. allow a limited use of your picture (e.g. one off publication).

The charging could be a one off amount which would certainly be more appropriate for a. and c. or it might be a combination of a one off amount and royalties for future publication in the case of b.

[Dabhand16]

Strikes me that if he thinks he can resell them, he obviously thinks there is a long term potential or he has someone lined up who will buy them.

If it is the latter, that is a restricted sale, it might be worth considering if you are not particularly attached to them.

If it is the former, and there is a possibility of long-term sales, I'd want to hang on to either all of the rights, and sell them myself, or have a hefty percentage, depending on what work he is going to be putting into the marketing.

[VikingPhotography]

Originally Posted by candyspics

Hi everyone,
I am new to this site and hope someone can help me. I was asked by someone if I would sell him the rights to some of my pictures so he can resell them (I don't know if I am wording this correctly?) Can someone give me some advice on how to go about this? I wouldn't even have a clue on a dollar amount.
Thanks,
Candy

No, no, no, no, no and a thousand more times NO!

Never, ever sell your rights - especially copyright - to any of your works.

Rather form a contract with anyone looking to represent your work that entitles you to a share of the revenues - this is how all major image agencies operate.

I send work to WireImage, Getty Images, Xposure Photo Agency and Camera Press; in all instances, I receive no less than 50% of whatever revenues they make from selling on my work. The copyright to the images that I send them is joint copyright for a period of 5 years from the date they receive them and, after that, the sole copyright reverts back to me.

As a photographer, your saleable images represent your pension. They can be, if marketed or represented correctly, a source of revenue for you for many years to come.

If someone approaches you with the offer of a one-time fee so they can then sell your work as they see fit, DON'T DO IT - the chances are that, when properly licensed, you'll receive a lot more money over time for your work than their one-off payment.

Being commercially successful in photography is as much about having business smarts as it is being a skilled image maker.

If you're looking for direct advice on how to handle your current situation, please PM me and we'll take it from there.